Details:

Mass: 47.8 grams  (1.4oz)

Diameter: 38.00 mm  Metal: Gold Content: Au 916 (22ct)

Description:

THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HUMAN HEART TRANSPLANTTOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 3rd 1967 BY DR CHRISTIAAN NEETHLING BARNARDSince the late 1700's important breakthroughs in the medical field included the discovery of antibodies and antigens, blood typing and the identification of the theory of host resistance. Cardiac catherterization during the 40's to 1950's gave a greater understanding of the physiology of the heart, the development of the heart-lung machine and experimentation with topical hypothermia all brought the world one step closer to the reality of a human heart transplant

A DONOR HEART WAS LACED WITH MORAL, POLITICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

Denise Darvall, a woman in her mid-twenties, was fatally injured in a motor accident and died shortly after her arrival at Groote Schuur Hospital. Her father gave permission for the heart to be donated and medical heart transplant history was made in an operation that lasted approximately four and three quarter hours.

MR LOUIS WASHKANSKY - A MAN IN HIS MID 50's

The recipient for this ground breaking surgery had been identified as Mr L Washkansky who was a man with an incurable heart disease. Mr Washkansky had a choice to either die with his damaged heart or take a chance with the transplant in order to extend his life.

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